The Union government’s decision to implement the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) is a challenge to the idea of India, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said. Speaking at a rally organised by the Left Democratic Front against the CAA in Kasaragod, he said the law was part of the Sangh Parivar’s long-time agenda of turning Muslims into second class citizens by taking away their basic rights.
“No civilised society defines citizenship or accepts or rejects refugees on the basis of their religion. But, under the CAA, citizenship is granted only to people belonging to six religions. It is a divisive step aimed at denying citizenship to Muslims. The countries for which CAA is applicable have minority categories like Ahmadiya Muslims and Rohingyas belonging to the Muslim religion too, but refugees from these categories will be excluded. Such a law is violative of Constitutional principles and values,” he said.
